Self-propelled sprinkler



J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 May 28,1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 John Wynsfra INVENTOR. BY mm, MW

Arm-n May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original FiledMay 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John Wynsfra w Q t mm vm Qv INVEN TOR.

BY Attorneys May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER OriginalFiled May 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 John Wynsfra 1N VEN TOR.

BY mm. MW Ammuy:

May 28, 1963 J. WYNSTRA 3,091,397

SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLER Original Filed May 14, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Ja/m Wynsrra l N VEN TOR.

M MAMA United States Patent 3,091,397 SELF-PRUPELLED SPRINKLER JohnWynstra, Lyndon, Wash, assignor to Lyndon Metal Craft Co., Inc., acorporation of Washington Continuation of application Ser. No. 735,202,May 14, 1958. This application July 10, 1962, Ser. No. 208,880 6 Claims.(Cl. 239-183) This application is a continuation of my copendingapplication Serial No. 735,202, entitled Self-Propelled Sprinkler, filedMay 14, 1958, now abandoned.

This invention relates to lawn sprinklers and particularly toself-propelled lawn sprinklers that are operated from power obtainedfrom the same Water supply which is used to distribute water over thelawn or other area.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel selfpropelled sprinklerthat has a diaphragm type reciproeating motor intermittently charged andpurged of water from the water supply by a valve whose timing iscoordinated with the operation of the motor.

The motor is preferably made of a chamber that has a flexible wall, forexample a diaphragm, to which a walking beam actuating rod has beensecured. The walking beam serves two functions. The first function is tointermittently operate a pair of drive wheels on the sprinkler and thesecond is to time the valve and actually operate the valve to cause themotor to reciprocate. Considering now the valve, it is a multi-positionvalve. In one position a valve port registers the water supply with thefluid motor so that the motor actuated rod moves the walking beamthrough its power stroke. At'another position the valve has one or moreports registered with the motor chamber and the atmosphere so that themotor is purged of at least some of the water. But this water is used asa supplementary spray since it is discharged generally laterally of thesprinkler and onto the lawn or other area that is being watered. In theoperation of the sprinkler these valve positions are successivelyobtained causing the sprinkler to operate over an indefinite area and todistribute water over that area. The valve discharge supplementary spraycan be made to reach the area adjacent to the sprinkler or can bedischarged over a larger area. However, the main spray from thesprinkler is obtained from a rotating sprinkling head that is in directregistry with the pressure of the water supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structurally simpleand compact self-propelled sprinkler that is adapted to be guided by thesame hose that supplies water under pressure to the sprinkler for bothsprinkling and sprinkler propulsion. Only three weeksv are necessary inthe sprinkler, one exerting a guiding function on the sprinkler since itis grooved and disposed on the hose, while the other wheels are drivewheels engaged by a drive structure connected with the walking beam. Thewalking beam is powered by the fluid motor when the walking beam ismoved in one direction, and is spring returned to the opposite extremityin its movement. During the power stroke of the walking beam the drivewheels are moved, and during the power stroke and spring return strokeof the walking beam, the valve is continually adjusted through its valvecycle of operation.

The invention is embodied in a unique structural arrangement of aself-propelled sprinkler.

These together with other objects and advantages which will be apparentreside in the details of construction and operate as more fullyhereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG.- 1 is a side view of the sprinkler showing it as it would appearwhen operatively connected with a water r 3,091,391 Patented May 28,1963 hose, with one rear wheel omitted for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the sprinkler and hose in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front view,- with parts shown in section, of the sprinklerand hose in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the valve partof FIG. 6 with the valve in the position at which the supplementarywater spray is discharged to the lawn or other area and at which themotor chamber is purged.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9-. is a fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on the line9-9 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 2and showing the guide wheel spindle assembly.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the walking beam.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the drive pawls that isengageable with teeth on one of the drive wheels.

In the accompanying drawings there is a water conduit 10 preferably agarden or other type of flexible hose. This hose is adapted to attach toa source of water under pressure and to pipe 12 that constitutes a partof water sprinkler 14. The water sprinkler has a main frame 16 that isconstructed in separate parts, as illustrated, or as a single casting.When separate parts are used, there is a bottom section 18, a topsection 20 and an intermediate section 22, all bolted together by staybolts 24. The bottom section has a flat base 26 from which flanges 30and 28 depend. Axle 34 for the two rear drive wheels 36 and 38- ismounted for rotation in hearings in flanges 28 and 30. Each drive wheelhas a plurality of spaced teeth 40 thereon which serve two purposes. Onepurpose is to obtain traction by acting as treads and the other purposeis to constitute part of a one-way drive connection. The teeth on wheels36 and 38 cooperate with the remainder of the wheels to form ratchetwheels with which pawls 42 and 44 are engageable.

Pipe 12 is suspended beneath the lower section 18 by hangers 46 and 48to which clamps 50 and 52 are fastened. The pipe is held by the clampand has a coupling 58 at one end with which the hose 10 is connected. Anelbow '59 is at the opposite end of pipe 12 and has a riser 60 attachedto it. Note that the rotary spray head 62 is at the top of riser 60 andthis provides primary spraying water from the water supply and that isconnected by hose 10.

The front end of the frame and more particularly pipe 12, has a casterassembly 64 that includes a grooved wheel 65 mounted on hose 10. Thegrooved wheel constrains the movement of the caster assembly, the latterbeing capable of rotating a full 360 about its vertical spindle 67. Thespindle is secured in a bearing 68, and the bearing is carried bymounting bracket 69 that is welded or otherwise secured to elbow 59 andthat protrudes forwardly thereof.

A fluid motor 70 is in the frame 16 and is of the reciprocating type.Intermediate section 22 of the frame is cylindrical enclosing 'a motorchamber 72. A diaphragm 74 extends across the chamber 72 and is attachedbetween mounting flange 75 of section 22 and the lower surface of theflat plate or base 76 of upper section 20. A walking beam actuating rod78 is secured to the metal "ice valve core is seen best in FIGS. 9 and3.

backing plate 79 of the diaphragm 74 and is passed through an opening 80in the base 76. This opening vents the part of chamber 72 above thediaphragm 74 with the part of the chamber 72 below the diaphragm adaptedto receive Water from hose '10 and under considerable pressure which maybe regulated by valve 84.

Motor 70, being a reciprocating motor, moves the push rod 7 8 throughits reciprocatory path of travel. The rod has a fork 86 at its upper endthat forms an upwardly opening saddle within which a part of walkingbeam 88 is disposed. There is a slot 89 in the walking beam, and a pin98 passed through that slot and carried by the sides of the yoke. Thisdrivingly connects the walking beam to the fluid motor so that as theactuating rod 78 is reciprocated, the walking beam is caused to pivotabout its spindle 92.

The spindle 92 has reduced ends (FIG. 11) disposed in bearings or simplyin openings formed in the upstanding walls 93 and 94 of the uppersection 20 and that rise vertically from the side edges of base 76thereof. A transverse spindle 95 is at the opposite end of the walkingbeam and has reduced ends on which pawls 42 and 44 are pivotallymounted. Typical pawl 42 is shown in FIG. 12, consisting of a boss 98 atone end and having a tooth 100 at the opposite end. The tooth projectslaterally from the body of the pawl so that the pawl can be locatedbetween the drive wheels 36 and 38 but yet have the tooth drivinglyengage the teeth 40 of the two drive wheels. FIG. 8 shows the internaldetail of boss 98. It has a setscrew 102 radially and adjustably mountedin it with the inner end of the set-screw reduced to fit in acircumferential groove 104 formed in the reduced end of spindle 95 (FIG.11). Therefore the pawls are free to pivot on spindle 95 but cannotslide off the ends thereof. It is now evident that as the reciprocatingmotor is set into operation, walking beam '88 will pivotally oscillateand drive the wheels 36 and 38 to propel the entire sprinkler, asconstrained in its motion by the caster assembly 64. At the same timespray head 62 distributes water throughout an area around the sprinkler.

In order to cycle the motor 70 a valve 108 is carried by the frame '16and has means for delivering water under pressure from pipe 12 (andhence hose 10) to the valve. These means consists of a conduit 114 thathas one end connected with pipe 12 through valve 84. The valve can actas a throttle valve and an on-otf valve. The opposite end of conduit 114is registered with a port 116 in valve body 118. The valve body isthreaded or otherwise se cured to the side wall of frame intermediatesection 22 and is registered with the chamber 72 (FIG. 4).

Valve 108 is a multi-position valve. It has a cylindrical core 12!)mounted for oscillation in the valve body 118. A collar 122 is at oneend of the valve core and abuts an end of the valve body to limit themotion of the valve core axially with respect to the body 118. A seal124 serves the usual purpose of establishing a seal between the valvebody and valve core. Valve chamber 126 is in the valve core and isregistered with the chamber 7 2. The valve core has a water inlet port130 adapted to register with port 116 when water under pressure is to beintroduced into chamber 72. The valve core is capable of being turned toa new position at which port 116- is closed and port 138 registers withone or a group of discharge ports 136 in valve body 118. Ports 136 arepreferably but not necessarily laterally arranged with respect to thesprinkler so that when water is discharged through ports 13-6, it formsa secondary sprinkler for the area adjacent to the sprinkler.

As stated previously the valve core is adapted to oscillate in :a rotarymanner. The structure for actuating the It consists of an arm 140 thatis secured to the spindle 95 and to a spring 142. A number of holes canbe provided in arm 140 so that the spring tension can be changed byattaching it into a selected hole. Lever 144 is attached to the oppositeend of the spring and is passed through a passage 148 (FIG. 4)transversely through valve core 120. Accordingly, as the walking beam israised and lowered by motor 78, the valve is caused to move to andthrough its various positions. In one position (FIG. 4) water underpressure is delivered through conduit 114 and into the chamber 72 by wayof port 138 and valve chamber 126. Since chamber 72 is exposed toconsiderable water pressure, the diaphragm lifts thereby lifting thewalking beam 88 and causing the wheels 36 and 38 to be rotated through afew degrees. Meanwhile ports 136 are closed by the valve core, and thesprinkler head 62 providing primary water is rotating. As the walkingbeam begins to lift the valve core begins to rotate in valve body 118thereby closing the port 116. The sprinkler has a spring 150 attached atone end to walking beam 88 and attached at the other end to an eye 152or the like of frame section 18. This spring opposes the upward movement(power stroke) of the walking beam 88 and causes the walking beam toreturn to a rest position. In so returning, port 138 registers with thegroup of single ports 136 thereby purging the chamber 72 of aconsiderable quantity of the water therein and causing this water to bedistributed through ports 136 that function as small nozzles, and yielda secondary spray.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A self-propelled lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a carriage including a main frame;

(b) a diaphragm motor on said main frame, with a diaphragm elementspanning most of the width of said main frame;

(0) conduit means delivering water under pressure to said carriage andto said diaphragm motor;

(d) a water flow control mechanism on said main frame including atwo-position snap action valve actuated by movement of the saiddiaphragm element to deliver water under pressure to said motor during apower stroke and vent said motor during a return stroke;

(e) drive means for said carriage including a lever element pivotallyattached to said frame at one end, with carriage driving pawl mechanismat the other end, the said drive means further comprising an actuatingconnection between the diaphragm element of said motor and anintermediate part of said lever element; and

(f) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move samethrough a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flowcontrol mechamsm.

2. A self-propelled lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a wheeled carriage including a main frame;

(b) a diaphragm motor on said frame, with a flexible diaphragm elementspanning most of the width of said frame;

(c) conduit means delivering water under pressure to said carriage andto said diaphragm motor;

(d) a water flow control mechanism on said carriage including atwo-position snap action valve actuated by movement of the diaphragmelement of said motor to deliver water under pressure to said motorduring a power stroke and vent said motor during a return stroke;

(e) drive means for said carriage including a thirdclass lever mechanismpivotally anchored to said carriage at one end and intermediatelyconnected to said diaphragm element, with pawl mechanism at the otherend of said lever mechanism arranged to drive said carriage during apower stroke of said diaphragm element; and

(7) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move samethrough a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flowcontrol mechanlsm.

3. In a self-propelled lawn sprinkler carriage comprising a wheeledframe with branched conduit means delivering water under pressure to aspray head and to a water pressure actuated motor carried by said frame;the improvements comprising:

(a) a lever type drive mechanism including a pivoted beam, one end ofwhich is pivotally anchored to said frame and the other end of whichmounts a pawl mechanism intermittently driving said carriage;

(b) a motive element in said water actuated motor consisting of amovable plate engaging a flexible diaphragm overlapping said plate andmaintained in clamped engagement with a fixed chamber wall, with thesaid plate, diaphragm and fixed wall defining an enclosed pressurechamber spanning most of the width of said frame;

() means drivingly linking said movable plate to said pivoted beam at apoint intermediate the ends of said beam to provide a driving actioncharacterized by the generation of third-class leverage;

(d) a two-position valve constituting the control means for said motor,and arranged in the water delivery conduit associated with said motor,said valve being positionally linked to said pivoted beam and at oneposition thereof placing said enclosed chamber in communication with theassociated branch conduit to deliver water under pressure to saidpressure chamber and generate a motive power stroke by movement of saidmovable plate, and at the other position thereof communicating saidpressure chamber for exhaust thereof to atmosphere to interrupt thepower stroke and permit a return stroke of said movable plate;

(e) means resiliently loading said beam and movable plate to return sameto power stroke initiating position when said valve is in its chamberexhausting position; and

(f) manually controllable valve means in said branched conduit forregulating the proportion-ate flow of water into said pressure chamberand thereby regulating the speed of the power stroke of said motor.

4. A lawn sprinkler adapted to be propelled by water under pressure in ahose and be guided by the hose, said sprinkler comprising:

(a) a firame having a forwardly mounted guide wheel to track along thehose and a pair of rearwardly mounted, laterally disposed drive wheelsto straddle the hose;

(b) lever means having one end thereof pivotally mounted forwardly onsaid frame, with pawl means at the other end thereof actuating ratchetmeans by which the sprinkler is propelled forwardly;

(c) a water-actuated motor situated under said lever means and justforwardly of the rearwardly mounted drive wheels, said motor comprisingan enclosed, variable volume pressure chamber defined by a stationarywall, a movable wall, and a flexible diaphragm arranged between saidwalls with a portion of said diaphragm being in fixed relation to eachof said walls, the said flexible diaphragm and movable wall spanning amajor part of the width of said frame and being responsively moved bywater under pressure in said chamber to generate motive movement of saidmovable wall;

(d) means drivingly linking said movable wall to a point intermediatethe ends of said lever means; (e) a water supply line connecting saidhose to said pressure chamber;

(f) a dual-position valve in said water supply line,

said valve having porting at a first position for directing water underpressure into said pressure chamber and having porting at a secondposition for exhaust-ing water from said pressure chamber;

(g) valve actuation structure connecting said dualposition valve to saidlever means and operating said valve synchronously with the movement ofsaid lever means, the said valve actuation structure operating to shiftsaid valve to said first position when said movable wall is at about aminimum chamber volume position and to said second position when saidmovable wall is at about a maximum chamber volume position; and

(h) means resiliently Loading said flexible diaphragm andmova'hle wallto move same through a return stroke when said valve is. in said secondposition.

5. A self-powered lawn sprinkler comprising:

(a) a carriage including a main frame having laterally disposed drivewheels;

(b) a reciprocating diaphragm motor on said main frame, with a diaphragmelement spanning most of the width of said main frame;

(0) conduit means delivering water under pressure to said carriage andto said diaphragm motor;

(d) a water flow control mechanism on said main frame including atwo-position snap action valve actuated by movement of the saiddiaphragm element to deliver water under pressure to said motor during apower stroke and vent said motor during a return stroke;

(e) drive means for said carriage including:

(1) ratchet means connecting with at least one of said drive wheels;

(2) a lever element pivotally connected to said iirame at one end withpawl mechanism at the other end constructed to engage and drive saidratchet means during upward movement of both the lever element and thepawl mechanism and slip over said ratchet means durin g downwardmovement of said lever element and said pawl mechanism;

(3) the said drive means further comprising an actuating connectionbetween the diaphragm element of said motor and an intermediate part ofsaid lever element; and

(1) means resiliently loading said diaphragm element to move samethrough a return stroke when said chamber is vented by said water flowcontrol mechamsm.

6. A lawn sprinkler adapted to be propelled by water under pressure in ahose and be guided by the hose, said sprinkler comprising (a) a framehaving a forwardly mounted guide wheel to track along the hose and apair of rearwardly mounted, laterally disposed drive wheels to straddlethe hose;

(b) ratchet means connected with at least one of said drive wheels;

(c) lever means having one end thereof pivot-ally mounted forwardly onsaid frame, with pawl means at the other end thereof constructed toengage and drive said ratchet means during upward movement of both saidlever means and said pawl means and to slip over said ratchet meansduring downward movement of said lever means and said pawl means, withpawl actuation of said ratchet means causing forward propulsion of thesprinkler;

(d) a water-actuated, reciprocating motor situated under said levermeans and just forwardly of the rearwardly mounted drive wheels, saidmotor comprising an enclosed, variable volume pressure chamber definedby a stationary wall, a movable wall, and a flexible diaphragm arrangedbetween said walls with a portion of said diaphragm being in fixedrelation to each of said walls, the said flexible diaphragm and movablewalls spanning a major part of the width of said frame and beingresponsively moved by water under pressure in said chamber to generatemotive movement of said movable Wall;

(e) means drivingly linking the said movable Wall to a pointintermediate the ends of said lever means;

(1'') a water supply line connecting said hose to said pressure chamber;

(g) a dual-position valve in said water supply line,

said valve having porting at a first position for directing water underpressure into said pressure chamber and having porting at a secondposition for exhausting water from said pressure chamber;

(h) valve actuation structure connecting said dualposition valve to saidlever means and operating said valve synchronously with the movement 01Esaid lever means, the said valve actuation structure operating 8. toshift said valve to said first position when said movable Wall is atabout a minimum chamber volume position and to said second position whensaid movable Wall is at about a maximum chamber volume position; and

(1") means resiliently loading said flexible diaphragm and movable wallto move same through a return stroke when said valve is in said secondposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A SELF-PROPELLED LAWN SPRINKLER COMPRISING: (A) A CARRIAGE INCLUDING A MAIN FRAME; (B) A DIAPHRAGM MOTOR ON SAID MAIN FRAME, WITH A DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT SPANNING MOST OF THE WIDTH OF SAID MAIN FRAME; (C) CONDUIT MEANS DELIVERING WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CARRIAGE AND TO SAID DIAPHRAGM MOTOR; (D) A WATER FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM ON SAID MAIN FRAME INCLUDING A TWO-POSITION SNAP ACTION VALVE ACTUATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE SAID DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT TO DELIVER WATER UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID MOTOR DURING A POWER STROKE AND VENT SAID MOTOR DURING A RETURN STROKE; (E) DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID CARRIAGE INCLUDING A LEVER ELEMENT PIVOTALLY ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME AT ONE END, WITH CARRIAGE DRIVING PAWL MECHANISM AT THE OTHER END, THE SAID DRIVE MEANS FURTHER COMPRISING AN ACTUATING CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT OF SAID MOTOR AND AN INTERMEDIATE PART OF SAID LEVER ELEMENT; AND (F) MEANS RESILIENTLY LOADING SAID DIAPHRAGM ELEMENT TO MOVE SAME THROUGH A RETURN STROKE WHEN SAID CHAMBER IS VENTED BY SAID WATER FLOW CONTROL MECHANISM. 